- I spoke to two long-time lawenforcement veterans who say

whether or not they supportthis idea of defunding

the police depends onwhat you're talking about.

If you're talking aboutshifting money from the police

to other areas that will serve society,

then they're on board, but ifby defunding you're talking

about abolishing policedepartments, not so much.

- [Man] This has been a nightmare

that none of us ever want to relive.

- [Eric] In discussing the best ways

to ensure public safety, Jim Burch,

president of the NationalPolice Foundation believes

abolishing police departments

would be a catastrophic mistake,

but he says shifting moneyto other agencies could work,

especially when it comes toissues like mental health.

- A police officer only hasa few tools at their disposal

to handle any situationthat they come upon.

A mental health crisisis not a great matchup

for a police officer.

- [Eric] But he adds there can be concern.

- Are they gonna be available to respond

at 2:00 a.m. on Saturday morning?

Are they gonna be able torespond on Sunday afternoon?

If police officers are no longerresponding to those calls,

who's going to go and helpthat family that's in crisis?

And because the last thingany of us want is to say

the police are no longer gonna respond

to these types of problems,

And we're gonna shift this amount of money

to these organizations only to find out

that these organizations whonow have this responsibility

themselves say that's notenough money for us to do it.

Now, no one is doing it.

(motorcycle motor rumbling)

- [Eric] Burch underscores

that an overhaul of policing is needed.

- We're really talking abouthere is fundamental change.

We're not talking aboutsomething that you can fix

in four hours of training.

We're not talking about something

that you can fix by giving a lecture

to those who are currentlyout on the streets today.

We're talking about amajor fundamental change.

- The number one issue in policing today

is police accountability.

- [Eric] Patrick Oliver leadsthe criminal justice program

at Cedarville University andserved in law enforcement

for more than 27 years.

He says, "Fundamental changecomes down to the people."

- Government is best servedby godly men and women

who understand that they'reaccountable, ultimately, to God.

- [Eric] He says,government is God ordained.

And the power an officerwields is second to none.

- So from verbal warning to deadly force,

that's how much discretiona law enforcement officer

has in our society.

That's more than anyother job in our society.

And this job is only for people

who are honorable men that love truth,

who will judge rightly andwho will do what is right.

- Oliver believes changestarts with each officer,

and that is the mindset he will have

as he takes on an additional role.

He has agreed to be leadconsultant for the Ohio governor's

new office of law enforcement recruitment.

Eric Philips, CBN news.